Telling them it's sin not to give is legalism, we are to decide that. However, giving is maturity and tithing is God's way to give to the church.
Surely this is the only 'law' that we have - to love God and one another (in deed as well as word). The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has, surely, set us free from any legalistic obligation (particularly in the religious realm) - though not from the principles behind the Law, which are entirely in tune with the Spirit, who writes his laws on our hearts not on tablets of stone, scrolls of parchment or volumes of paper! Thus the idea of tithing - or giving the firstfruits of our labours into God's house - remains true, valid and binding, but not the letter of "10% or else". That's my understanding, anywayOriginally posted by lambslove
Some people are so afraid of legalism that they won't do anything commanded by God, for fear that they will be perfoeming works of the law...He didn't rescind the tithe, and it is still in effect, not as a law, but as a show of love for Him.
Precisely my point in the second half of my previouds post! Where I also said that the law of the Spirit demands far more than a mere 10% from us! Just because I don't believe in slavishly following the letter of the law on tithing does not mean that I do not give 10% (read my posts elsewhere, and you'll see that I do - and considerably more besides). God loves a cheerful giver - who gives freely and willingly out of a compassionate and obedient heart - not out of a guilty conscience or externally imposed sense of obligation, grudgingly calculating the minimum he can get away with to avoid being cursed! My personal feeling is - tho' I can't come up with specific Scriptures - that we should give our whole income to God and allow Him to show how much we can 'justify' keeping for our own use. Certainly we are told that the first Christians in Jerusalem regarded nothing that they had as their own, but gave freely wherever there was a need. Sadly, many 'tithing Christians' seem to see it the other way round - make sure our needs are met before as little as possible to God!If you are buying luxuries like eating out, cell phones and cable tv and refusing to give God even 10%, I can't imagine how you cope with the embarassment. It really says that everything else, including entertainment, is more important to you than Him.
Originally posted by Candidus
Lamb's Love,
You bluster much over how society changes, yet you fail to produce even one Scriptural argument that shows that God changed His commandment at any time. Scriptures give a clear standard, but you seem to cherish your own private interpretation over them.
You mockingly question the "scholarship" of the writer who is clearly in agreement with F.F. Bruce, Lewis Sperry Chafer, Edersheim, Walter Elwell, R.C.H. Lenski, John Mac Arthur, J. Vernon McGee, Bruce Metzger, D.L. Moody,Charles Ryrie, Scofield, Chuck Swindoll, Merril Unger, John Wesley, Spiros Zodhiates, and John Owen. He agrees with the conclusions of over 20 dictionaries and commentaries on the subject. He has proven that he has the backing of church historians and the Apostolic Fathers.
I know of no major systematic theology that promotes tithing. Most do not even give it any notice. Some only comment with a short disagreement to it. You make arguments that are void of any "scholarly" value. You however seem to be an expert in criticizing this man's picture, the hat he wears, and question his credentials. In this, I have a lot to learn. In light of this could you please publish your picture and your credentials so I can take a crack at it?
Originally posted by aggie03
There is no mention of 10% or any number in the New Testament, but rather we are commaded to give with a cheerful heart, and as much as we can do with a cheerful heart. I have some verses on this, but I'll have to look them up - then I guess I'll edit this post.
Break out the crack pipes! They're not in the New Testament
Or why not sacrifice our children to foriegn gods, since that's not in the NT either?
Again, tithing as a law is no longer in effect, but tithing as a priciple IS something that was blessed by Jesus in Matthew 23:23.